The station was the junction between the Cape Cod Railroad mainline and the Chatham Branch.

The Cape Cod Central Railroad opened between Yarmouth and Orleans in December 1865.

[4][5] It was immediately leased by the Old Colony Railroad, which controlled all rail lines on Cape Cod, as its Chatham Branch.

[1] A turntable, wye, and water tower were located at Harwich; a new freight house was built adjacent to the station in the 1890s.

[9][10] All passenger service between Yarmouth and Provincetown ended in 1938 due to the 88 stations case; it resumed only for the 1940 summer season.